FLOWOOD — Northwest Rankin receiver Jarrian Jones turned to look for the ball, and as he reached out his hands, a Tupelo defensive back pulled down on Jones’ arms, trying to prevent a 50-yard touchdown.

The possible pass interference didn’t matter. As the defender fell to the ground, Jones caught the ball, turned and ran into the end zone.

Jones’ touchdown gave the Cougars a lead less than a minute into No. 4 Northwest Rankin’s first round playoff game, a lead it never surrendered en route to a 52-13 victory over Tupelo (7-5) Friday night.

Northwest Rankin dominated every facet of the game, scoring on offense, defense (twice) and special teams.

“When we come together as a team and play four complete quarters,” quarterback Jamari Jones said, “nobody can play with us.”

Northwest Rankin (11-1) relied on explosive plays to create an early lead. Jarrian Jones’ opening touchdown was set up by a 21-yard catch by receiver Bridley Thomas, and on the Cougars’ second possession, Dee Baker sped down the sideline for an 80-yard score. (Baker scored again on a 17-yard run in the second quarter.)

Northwest Rankin led by two touchdowns six minutes into the game.

“There’s so many weapons,” Jamari Jones said. “You can’t really stop all of it. If you take away our fast guys, we’re going to beat you over the top with big guys. If you play deep, we’re going to throw quick, break tackles and beat you.”

Tupelo responded to Baker’s first touchdown with a score, but poor execution — the extra point attempt missed — stopped the Golden Wave from finding any success. They moved past Northwest Rankin’s 25-yard line twice in the first half. Both times, Northwest Rankin forced turnovers on downs.

A minute after Baker’s first touchdown, Tupelo quarterback Stephon McGlaun fumbled while trying to throw the ball away. Northwest Rankin linebacker Hayden Hill recovered the ball in the end zone, extending an already substantial lead.

On the Cougars’ next possession, Jarrian Jones caught his second touchdown, this time from nine yards out. Northwest Rankin led 35-6 by halftime.

“I thought our guys did a great job getting to the ball,” Northwest Rankin head coach Toby Collums said, “and I thought we rally tackled all night long.”

Tupelo did not score again until the end of the fourth quarter, when a running clock accelerated an inevitable ending. And when Tupelo did score — on a 3-yard run by Jaquerrious Williams with four minutes left — Northwest Rankin’s Marquis Tenner, a 6-foot, 228-pound senior, flipped head-first into the end zone at the end of an 81-yard kickoff return.

“I can do a backflip, too,” Tenner said. “I would have hit a backflip if I didn’t have pads on.”

What it means

Northwest Rankin will host Madison Central (9-3) next week in the second round of the playoffs. Madison Central went on the road and beat Oxford, 35-3, on Friday night.

“It will be a big-time atmosphere,” Northwest Rankin head coach Toby Collums said of the rematch with Madison Central. “When you get to this point in the season, everybody’s good and everybody’s got a chance to win.”